New Species of Gibbon Found in China is Named after Star War Character

A new species of hoolock gibbon has been discovered in China's remote forest. The scientists have named this new found species after Star wars famous character "Skywalker.' (Photo : Getty Images)

A team of scientist has found new species of hoolock gibbon in a remote China forest on China - Burma border. It was initially believed to be part of one of the two already-known species, but after a close genetic examination, scientists concluded that this gibbon actually belonged to a new breed of species.

One of the two already-known species of gibbons is mostly found in parts of China, Bangladesh, India, and Burma, where they live on trees mostly surviving on fruits and leaves.

"It's an absolute privilege to see something as special and as rare as a gibbon in a canopy in a Chinese rainforest... especially when it turns out that the gibbons are actually a new species previously unrecognised by science," Dr. Sam Turvey, from the Zoological Society of London, told BBC.

The scientists have named this new found species after Star wars famous character 'Skywalker' as a tribute to the famous sci-fi movie, which apparently happens to be their most favorite movie.

The full name of the species will be 'Skywalker' hoolock gibbon. When translated into Chinese language, the name spells as "Heaven's movement."

The scientist community estimated that there are roughly 200 skywalker gibbons across China and also in neighboring Burma, while arguing that owing to their miniscule population, they must be put in the list of "endangered species."

Like most animals trotting nearing extinction, gibbons' existence has been threatened by illegal hunting and forest destruction.

Gibbons have made a special place in the animal with their "unique voice," which they specifically use it to mark their territories.